{"id":"a-2023-3","name":"Multiculturalism Act 2023","slug":"multiculturalism-act-2023","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"3 of 2023","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23968,"registerId":"act-a-2023-3-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Multiculturalism Act 2023","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nA2023-3\nRepublication No 2\nEffective: 15 February 2024\nRepublication date: 15 February 2024\nAct not amended\n(republication for commenced provisions)\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Multiculturalism Act 2023 (including any amendment made under\nthe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 15 February 2024. It also\nincludes any commencement, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nContents\nPage\nPreamble 2\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act 3\n3 Dictionary 3\n4 Notes 3\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and charter\n5 Object of Act 4\n6 Important concepts 4\n7 Charter for multiculturalism 4\nPart 3 Ministerial Advisory Council for\nMulticulturalism\n8 Establishment of council 5\n9 Functions of council 5\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n10 Director-general to give support 5\n11 Membership of council 5\n12 Ending appointments 6\n13 Minister to give directions on council procedures 7\n14 Annual report by council 7\nPart 4 Obligations of administrative units and\nMinister\n15 General obligations of administrative units 8\n16 Reporting obligations of administrative units 9\n17 Annual ministerial statement to Legislative Assembly 9\nPart 5 Miscellaneous\n18 Review of Act 10\n19 Regulation-making power 10\nSchedule 1 Charter for multiculturalism 11\nDictionary 12\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 13\n2 Abbreviation key 13\n3 Legislation history 14\n4 Amendment history 14\n5 Earlier republications 14\n\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nAn Act to promote multiculturalism in the ACT, and for other purposes\n\nPreamble\npage 2 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPreamble\nThe Legislative Assembly—\n1 acknowledges and pays respect to the first peoples and traditional\ncustodians of the ACT and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander\npeoples living in, or connected to, the ACT, whose lands, winds and\nwaters we now share; and\n2 recognises the diverse cultures, languages and beliefs of the first\npeoples of the ACT, and of the many other people who make up the\nmodern ACT community; and\n3 believes that multiculturalism enriches the civic, cultural, economic,\neducational, political and social life of the ACT; and\n4 recognises that people of diverse backgrounds and experiences may\nface different forms of discrimination and disadvantage; and\n5 commits to ensuring the ACT is a harmonious and unified community\nwhere individuals, regardless of their backgrounds and experiences,\nfeel included, respected and valued.\nThe Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory therefore enacts as\nfollows:\n\nPreliminary Part 1\nSection 1\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Multiculturalism Act 2023.\n3 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this\nAct, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined\nelsewhere in the Act.\nFor example, the signpost definition ‘multiculturalism—see section 6.’\nmeans that the term ‘multiculturalism’ is defined in that section.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to\nthe entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,\nprovides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see\nLegislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).\n4 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\n\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and charter\nSection 5\npage 4 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 2 Object, important concepts and\ncharter\n5 Object of Act\n(1) The object of this Act is to promote multiculturalism in the ACT.\n(2) The object is to be achieved by—\n(a) establishing and promoting the charter for multiculturalism; and\n(b) establishing the council; and\n(c) providing a framework for the review and continuous\ndevelopment of the government’s promotion of\nmulticulturalism.\n6 Important concepts\n(1) For this Act, multiculturalism means actions, policies, principles,\nprograms and services intended to—\n(a) engage with and respect individuals of diverse backgrounds and\nexperiences; and\n(b) promote a better understanding of individuals’ diverse\nbackgrounds and experiences; and\n(c) maintain an equitable, harmonious, progressive and unified\ncommunity; and\n(d) benefit from diversity.\n(2) For this Act, diversity means the different ways an individual\nidentifies and expresses themself in the community, including\nthrough their culture, language, religious or spiritual belief.\n7 Charter for multiculturalism\nThe charter for multiculturalism is set out in schedule 1.\n\nMinisterial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism Part 3\nSection 8\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Ministerial Advisory Council for\nMulticulturalism\n8 Establishment of council\nThe Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism is established.\n9 Functions of council\nThe functions of the council are to—\n(a) advise the Minister on—\n(i) ways to promote multiculturalism in the ACT; and\n(ii) the effectiveness of government policies, programs and\nother actions in promoting multiculturalism; and\n(b) consult with individuals and bodies in the ACT community\nabout promoting multiculturalism; and\n(c) exercise any other function given to the council under a territory\nlaw.\n10 Director-general to give support\nThe director-general must provide administrative support and\nfacilities for the council.\n11 Membership of council\n(1) The council is made up of—\n(a) the chair; and\n(b) the deputy chair; and\n(c) 9 other members.\n\nPart 3 Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism\nSection 12\npage 6 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) The Minister must appoint the—\n(a) chair of the council; and\n(b) deputy chair of the council; and\n(c) other members of the council.\nNote For laws about appointments, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.3.\n(3) The Minister may appoint a person to the council only if the Minister\nis satisfied that the person—\n(a) is committed to promoting multiculturalism; or\n(b) has demonstrated leadership or expertise in contemporary issues\nrelevant to multiculturalism.\n(4) The Minister must take all practicable steps to ensure that the\nmembership of the council reflects diversity, including by having\nregard to—\n(a) gender identities; and\n(b) age groups; and\n(c) residency or immigration status; and\n(d) generations of migrants and their families.\n(5) An appointment must be for a term of not longer than 3 years.\n(6) A person must not be a member of the council for more than 2 terms.\n12 Ending appointments\nThe Minister may end the appointment of a council member—\n(a) for misbehaviour; or\n(b) if the Minister is satisfied that the member is, or is likely to be,\nunable to effectively exercise the member’s functions; or\n\nMinisterial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism Part 3\nSection 13\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) if the member is absent, other than on leave approved by the\nMinister, from 2 consecutive meetings of the council.\nNote A council member may resign from the council by giving signed notice\nof resignation to the Minister (see Legislation Act, s 210).\n13 Minister to give directions on council procedures\n(1) The Minister must give the council a direction in relation to the\nprocedures of the council, including—\n(a) how the council must conduct its proceedings; and\n(b) how frequently the council must meet; and\n(c) the records the council must keep or publish.\n(2) The Minister must publish, for a reasonable period, a draft of the\ndirection for community consultation before giving the direction.\n(3) A direction is a notifiable instrument.\n14 Annual report by council\nThe council must prepare an annual report under the Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, section 7.\nNote An annual report direction may include requirements about the council’s\nannual report (see Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004, s 8).\n\nPart 4 Obligations of administrative units and Minister\nSection 15\npage 8 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 4 Obligations of administrative\nunits and Minister\n15 General obligations of administrative units\nThe director-general of an administrative unit must—\n(a) ensure that the administrative unit—\n(i) exercises its functions in a way that promotes\nmulticulturalism; and\n(ii) takes into account the charter for multiculturalism in\nexercising its functions; and\n(iii) develops, applies and reviews its policies, programs and\nservices in a way that promotes multiculturalism; and\n(iv) consults with the council and the ACT community about\nhow the administrative unit can promote multiculturalism;\nand\n(v) works with the council, other administrative units and\nterritory agencies to promote multiculturalism; and\n(b) ensure that people in the ACT community, regardless of their\ndiversity, have effective and equitable access to information,\nprograms and services provided by the administrative unit.\nExamples—par (a) (iii)\n1 recruitment policies and guidance\n2 diversity of representation on boards and committees\n3 procurement policies and guidance\n4 accessible provision of translating and interpreting services\n5 encouraging public communication in languages other than English\n6 diversity action plans\n\nObligations of administrative units and Minister Part 4\nSection 16\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n16 Reporting obligations of administrative units\n(1) The director-general annual report for an administrative unit must, for\na reporting year, include—\n(a) a statement about how the administrative unit has complied with\nsection 15; and\n(b) a summary of—\n(i) comments received from any consultation carried out\nunder section 15 (a) (iv); and\n(ii) any action taken by the administrative unit in response to\nthe comments.\nNote An annual report direction may include other requirements about\nreporting on the charter for multiculturalism (see Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, s 8).\n(2) In this section:\ndirector-general annual report—see the Annual Reports\n(Government Agencies) Act 2004, section 6.\nreporting year—see the Annual Reports (Government Agencies)\nAct 2004, dictionary.\n17 Annual ministerial statement to Legislative Assembly\nThe Minister must, as soon as practicable after each financial year,\npresent to the Legislative Assembly a statement about—\n(a) how administrative units have complied with section 15 during\nthe financial year; and\n(b) the government’s priorities and strategies to promote\nmulticulturalism during the following financial year.\n\nPart 5 Miscellaneous\nSection 18\npage 10 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 5 Miscellaneous\n18 Review of Act\n(1) The Minister must review the operation of this Act as soon as\npracticable after the end of every 5 years of its operation.\n(2) The Minister must present a report of each review to the Legislative\nAssembly within 6 months after the day the review is started.\n19 Regulation-making power\nThe Executive may make regulations for this Act.\n\nCharter for multiculturalism Schedule 1\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nSchedule 1 Charter for multiculturalism\n(see s 7)\nThe Legislative Assembly believes our community is enriched by the long and\ncontinuous cultures of the first peoples of Australia and the diverse cultures,\nlanguages, religious or spiritual beliefs of the many other people who have made\nour community their home. Accordingly, we say:\nRegardless of your background and experiences, and how you have\ncome to be in the ACT—\n1 you are welcome and your contributions to our community are valued\n2 you are free and safe to express, practise, maintain and celebrate your\ncultural, religious and spiritual identity\n3 you are entitled to use, preserve and share your language\n4 you are free to participate as equals in the civic, cultural, economic,\neducational, political and social life of the ACT\n5 you are entitled to equitable access to information, services and programs\nprovided to our community\nWe have a shared responsibility to—\n6 value the contributions of all people, regardless of their backgrounds and\nexperiences\n7 embrace and realise the benefits that diversity brings to our civic, cultural,\neconomic, educational, political and social life\n8 create a harmonious and unified community based on mutual respect,\ntrust and understanding\n9 end racism and other forms of unlawful discrimination.\n\nDictionary\npage 12 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 3)\nNote The Legislation Act contains definitions relevant to this Act.\nFor example:\n• ACT\n• administrative unit\n• body\n• director-general (see s 163)\n• financial year\n• function\n• give\n• in relation to\n• individual\n• Legislative Assembly\n• Minister (see s 162)\n• notifiable instrument (see s 10)\n• person (see s 160)\n• territory law.\ncharter for multiculturalism means the charter established under\nsection 7.\ncouncil means the Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism\nestablished under section 8.\ndiversity—section 6.\nmulticulturalism—see section 6.\n\nEndnotes\nAbout the endnotes 1\nR2\n15/02/24\nMulticulturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\npage 13\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 14 Multiculturalism Act 2023\nEffective: 15/02/24\nR2\n15/02/24\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nMulticulturalism Act 2023 A2023-3\nnotified LR 15 February 2023\ns 1, s 2 commenced 15 February 2023 (LA s 75 (1)\npt 4 commenced 15 February 2024 (s 2 (2))\nremainder commenced 1 September 2023 (s 2 (1))\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 89 (4)\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n1 Sept 2023\n1 Sept 2023–\n14 Feb 2024\nnot amended new Act\n© Australian Capital Territory 2024","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The republished Act and endnotes show commencement timing changes (parts commenced on different dates) but no textual amendments that expand or narrow the Act’s stated object or obligations. The Act’s scope—establishing a charter, a ministerial advisory council, duties on administrative units, reporting requirements and a 5‑year review—remains as enacted (see s5, s7–11, s15–18; legislation history endnotes)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to other territory laws (Legislation Act and Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act) create interpretive complexity for reporting and appointment processes (see Dictionary; s14; s16).","Significant ministerial discretion: appointment and termination powers, and power to direct council procedures, affect composition and operation of the advisory body (s11, s12, s13).","Broad, qualitative obligations on director‑generals to ‘promote multiculturalism’ and ‘take into account’ the charter (s15) leave substantial room for agency judgement and differing implementation approaches.","Multiple accountability layers (council annual report, director‑general annual reports, ministerial statement, 5‑year statutory review) increase procedural and reporting burdens on agencies (s14, s16, s17, s18).","Operational compliance burden: policy development, consultation, inter-agency cooperation and accessible service delivery expectations (examples in s15) require resource allocation by administrative units.","Limited enforcement detail: the Act relies on reporting, ministerial oversight and public statements rather than specified sanctions or penalties for non‑compliance (absence of enforcement provisions in Parts 3–5).","Membership rules (term limits, diversity considerations) create turnover and selection constraints that may affect continuity and institutional knowledge (s11(4)–(6)).","Procedural requirement to publish draft ministerial directions for community consultation adds an extra step before directions are finalised (s13(2)), increasing pre-decision transparency and process time."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, the Act establishes a charter and a Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism, requires ACT government administrative units to apply the charter in policies, consult the council, report annually, and requires the Minister to present an annual statement and review the Act (s5, s7–11, s15–17, s18).\n\nIt affects ACT agencies and their directors‑general (who must implement and report) and the Minister (who appoints the council and directs procedures), shifting compliance costs onto administrative units and vesting procedural discretion in the Minister (s11, s13)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is the original 2023 Act with no amendments. The scope remains as originally enacted: establishing an advisory council, creating a charter, and imposing reporting obligations on government agencies. No expansion beyond original intent has occurred."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute: only 19 sections plus a schedule and dictionary","Minimal defined terms: only 4 substantive definitions in the dictionary (charter, council, diversity, multiculturalism), with the rest being signpost references to other legislation","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic; most provisions are straightforward directives using 'must' and 'may'","Simple structure: 5 Parts with clear sequential organisation (Preliminary, Object/Charter, Council, Obligations, Miscellaneous)","Limited cross-referencing: primarily refers to the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 and Legislation Act 2001 for standard administrative procedures","No penalty provisions, offence sections, or enforcement mechanisms within the Act itself"],"plain_english_summary":"This ACT law establishes a framework to promote multiculturalism in the Australian Capital Territory. It creates a **Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism**—a group of up to 11 appointed members who advise the government on how to support diverse communities. The law requires all ACT government agencies (called \"administrative units\") to consider multiculturalism in their work, consult with the community, and report annually on their efforts. It also establishes a **Charter for Multiculturalism** (Schedule 1), which is essentially a public commitment that everyone in the ACT—regardless of background—is welcome, free to express their culture and beliefs, entitled to use their language, and has equal access to government services. The law requires a review every 5 years and mandates that the Minister report annually to the Legislative Assembly on progress."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023","history":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/multiculturalism-act-2023/documents"}}